Visayas Command, AFP

The Visayas Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines traces its roots from the former 3rd Military Area that was activated on May 17, 1942, at the height of the Second World War. Little is told about its existence but some history annals are replete with narratives on how its four military districts covering Panay Island; Negros; Cebu and Bohol; and Samar and Leyte, the 3rd Military Area under Colonel Juan K Causing played an important role for the liberation of the Visayas by organizing the Filipino resistance against the Japanese occupation. As the Cebuanos commemorate yearly the landing of US troops at the beach of Talisay, 4 miles South of Cebu City, on March 26, 1945, they also remember the heroism of more than 8,000 Filipino soldiers and guerillas who fought alongside the American forces to liberate Cebu, Bohol and Negros from the hands of the Japanese Forces. About 3,600 Filipino soldiers and guerillas died and thousands more were wounded before Cebu was totally liberated in July 1945. Facing internal security threat after the 2nd World War, the 3rd Military Area under Brigadier General Cornelio Bondad reconstituted in March 1954 to take operational control of the Philippine Army and the Philippine Constabulary units in the Visayas against the Hukbalahap forces. With the newly activated 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army under its control, the 3rd Military Area deployed Battalion Combat Teams in the different islands in the Visayas. The Command saw one of its glorious years after its reorganization in 1970 to become the 3rd Infantry Brigade Separate, Philippine Army. While maintaining its Headquarters in Cebu, this Command in 1973, then under Brigadier General Fortunato Abat, deployed four of its battalions to form the Central Mindanao Command CEMCOM that featured in famous battles at the Tran-Lebak Complex in Sultan Kudarat breaking the backbone of the rebellion. With its proven mettle in combat and in rebuilding communities affected by the raging conflict, the Command was upgraded to become the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in 1974. Three of its infantry battalions that were deployed in Mindanao were awarded with the Presidential Streamer Award by then President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos for their outstanding feat in both combat and non-combat operations. The creation of the regional unified commands as controlling operational headquarters for counter-insurgency operations in every region in 1981 and the subsequent transfer of the 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters to the Island of Panay in 1986, in effect, dissipated and disrupted the services and history of this Command until the activation of the Visayas Command (VISCOM) on March 29, 1988. On 01 December 2001, VISCOM was renamed Central Command as it was reorganized from an Area Command into a Unified Command. However, following its rich history from the time of its activation. Central Command was reverted back to its name as Visayas Command on 07 July 2021 with the primary mission of conducting prompt and sustained joint air, sea, and land operations, including military operations in the whole Visayas region. For the task of securing more than 18 million people in three regions; 16 provinces; 39 cities and 369 municipalities, VISCOM employs two Joint Task Forces: the Joint Task Force Spear stationed in Camp Macario B Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz, and the Joint Task Force Storm in Camp Vicente Lukban, Catbalogan City, Samar. The Naval and Airforce component units, the Naval Forces Central in Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapu-lapu City, and the Tactical Operations Wing Central of the Philippine Airforce which is stationed at Brigadier General Benito N Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu, and the Army's 53rd Engineer Brigade for combat support operations and engineering civic action programs.